Battle of Yorktown

The battles of Yorktown is held at the time of the Guerre of independence of the United States of America of the September 26th to the October 19th 1781. She confronts the American insurrectionists and their allies French of the Marquis of Fayette with the Britanniques ordered by Lord Cornwallis.

See also: Franco-American Countryside in the United States (August-September 1781)

See also: Franco-American Countryside in the United States (October 1781)

Context

When the generals Rochambeau and Washington meet with Wethersfield in the Connecticut the May 22nd 1781 to decide strategy to adopt vis-a-vis the Britanniques, they intend to go on New York occupied by 10.000 men under the orders of Sir Henry Clinton, highest graded British commanders.

During this time, information comes from to the general Lafayette that Lord Cornwallis gave an opinion with Yorktown in Virginia close to the York river. Before folding back itself on the village virginienne, Cornwallis camped with its 7.000 men in the colonies of the South. It occupied a good part of it, but was obliged to give up its positions to supply itself and to allow its soldiers to take again forces with Yorktown, its manpower melted because of the countryside that Nathanael Greene has carried out without slackening against its troops for two years. Clinton wishes also this movement on Yorktown so that the troops can form a unit with the Royal Navy.

Washington learns the position from the British in July, it intends to rejoin the French and American troops to carry out them in Virginia, hoping that Cornwallis maintains its forces with Yorktown.
Concerning the naval operations, the hope is obviously as French, Washington with the confirmation, the August 14th, as the Admiral de Grasse, which was hitherto in the Antilles, wet from now on in the Baie of Chesapeake with a powerful fleet of twenty-eight ships.

The battle

The battle has thus proceeded with Yorktown, colony of Virginia besieged for several weeks. On a side, one finds: 8000 British ordered by Lord Charles Cornwallis, and other: 9000 insurgent American, volunteers of Fayette, carried out by the Colonel Armand, Marquis of Rouërie and George Washington, as well as: 5000 men of the French task force of the count Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur de Rochambeau (: 11000 French on the whole).

The French fleet ensures the blockade of the port of Yorktown preventing any supply of the British by the sea, while the Franco-American terrestrial troops encircle the city.

After having taken fear them and bastions which were to defend it, the Franco-American army besieges the city. Lord Cornwallis goes. Claiming to be sick, it sends one of its subordinates to give his sword to the winners.

French Canadians with the battle of Yorktown

Several French Canadians took share with the battle of Yorktown. Thus, for example, the Major Clement Gosselin, German Dionne and several others fight with Fayette and Washington. The British defeat brings 40.000 Loyalistes to Quebec and in Nova Scotia, on a population of 90.000 French-speaking people. It will be the creation of English Canada. One can read the history of the Québécois regiment while reading on the Congress Own Regiment

Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil, grandson of a governor of News-France probably born in News-France, is admiral in the French Navy with the Battle of Chesapeake in front of Yorktown. Jacques Bedout, born with Quebec and then lieutenant of French frigate (later rear-admiral), is as for him on the frigate Railleuse.

Battle order

British army

commander-in-chief : Lord Cornwallis
8' 000 men
  • Brigade off Foot Guards (O' Hara)
  • Light Infantry Brigade (Abercrombie)
  • 1st Brigade (Yorke)
  • 2nd Brigade (Dundas)
  • Loyal supporters
  • Contingent German:
    • Ansbach-Bayreuth (von Voigt)
    • Hessen-Kassel (von Fuchs)

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French Army

commander-in-chief : count de Rochambeau
11' 000 men
  • Navy : admiral de Grasse
  • Artillery : colonel d' Aboville
  • Cavalry
  • Infantry
    • Brigade Bourdonnais
      • Regiment of Bourdonnais: colonel marquis de Laval
      • Royal Regiment Double-decker: colonel count of Two Bridges
    • Brigade Soissonnais
      • Regiment of Soissonnais: colonel marquis of St Maime
      • Regiment of Saintonge: colonel marquis de Custine
    • Brigade Agenois
      • Regiment of Agenois: colonel marquis d' Audechamp
      • Regiment of Gatinais: lieutenant-colonel of Estrade
    • Regiment of Touraine (not embrigadé): colonel Viscount of Pondeux

American army

commander-in-chief : Washington
6' 000 men
  • Light Division (Fayette)
    • 1st Brigade (Muhlenberg)
    • 2nd Brigade (Hazen)
  • 2nd Division (Benjamin Lincoln)
    • 1st Brigade (Clinton)
    • 2nd Brigade (Dayton)
  • 3rd Division (Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben)
    • 1st Brigade (Wayne)
    • 2nd Brigade (Gist)
  • Virginia Militia (Nelson)
    • 1st Brigade (Weedon)
    • 2nd Brigade (Lawson)
    • 3rd Brigade (Stevens)
|}

See too

  • Door Désilles

Sources

  • Leclerc, Jacques. “History of French in Quebec: The British mode” in linguistic installation in the world, Quebec, TLFQ, Laval University, March 20th, 2006

  • Dictionary biograghic of Canada Jacques Bedout, Ottawa, Libraries and Canada Files, 2006

  • Dictionary biograghic of Canada Clement Gosselin, Ottawa, Libraries and Canada Files, 2006

Bibliography on the subject

  • Battle order and other documents on the site of the historical service of the Army

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